Did I make a mistake buying this thing?

[ace50]

Well I just picked up a new 2012 S10, my first new bike, has 99 miles on it now and I don't know if I fully like it! Nobody has a demo to test drive, so how do you know unless you ride it?
My best friend got a chance to ride one and loved it, read many reviews on how great it was, and you guys seem to like it!

This is my 7th bike in about that many years and have ridden many other bikes and do all my own maintenance, so I'm not exactly a novice.
I was eying the 2015 Versys 1000, but being a new model, is more expensive. I got a good deal on this leftover 2012.

What do you not like about it you say? Well my last 2 bikes were 4 bangers. This is my first parallel twin. Well not exactly, I got my daughter a Suzuki GS500 last year but it is too small for me and not enough power so I don't ride it. I don't mind riding my friends big Honda VTX1800 twin. Maybe I just prefer 4 cylinders now which is why I was considering the Versys before.
The engine is similar to my ZRX1100, which i think is a great bike but 15 years old now, and maybe a little small for my 6'3" frame.

Don't know if it is having to be gentle with it during the break-in, not waking it and staying under 4K most of the time????
I just don't know........................... You sure get a lot of dive when braking with this long travel suspension. I admit I haven't set it up for my 220 lb self yet either.

Am I just gonna see some of these? ::021::

 

[Lutsie]

I wouldn't worry about it until you break-it-in and set up the suspension. I wanted to blow my brains out during break in...and I already knew I liked the bike. I had only owned 4's before this and really enjoyed them(the only thing I miss is the ungodly wail at 13 k rpm)...I have fallen in love with the sound off this angry parallel.

 

[snakebitten]

Gotta ask.........
What kind of riding did you choose the Super Tenere for?
Although you can ride almost any bike anywhere, most are designed with an intent.
This bike, in my opinion, is narrowly designed at a specific niche. Very specific, in fact.
As much as I champion the dang thing, there was a time in my life that it just wouldn't be a good fit.

 

[EricV]

Stop being gentile with it. No sustained high rpm, not no high rpms. Flog it, just don't hang out at consistent high rpms. Google Motoman break in, then do that. Chaing the oil and filter. Then ride it like you would normally and enjoy it.

Yes, it's not a butter smooth, turbine like power, inline four. But, it's still very capable of hooligan fun and remember, smooth is fast and corners are your friend.

 

[Tyke]

Treat it like a new woman, it'll be fine once you get used to its individuality

BTW I swapped from a Versys 1000 to my S10

 

[Rasher]

::021::

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Solves break-in issue, and how I tend to do my new bikes, no thrashing or labouring, but just ride it pretty normally, was told this years ago by local engine tuner who has worked on top flight rally cars, drag bikes and both two and four stroke race bikes including GP two-strokes back in the good old days. Always had good engines that never use oil and none have blown up so keep on doing it that way, he used to say just keep rolling on and off in the mid range, winding roads help, but on straight roads I would just wind up and down say from 60-80mph.

You may also be suffering a bit with the restrictions in 1st - 3rd gear, search for "Flash" and get that sorted and you will find a lot more low-down poke available.

Also will take time to get used to the delivery, even compared to my old 1200GS the Tenere lump took some getting used too as it is s linear in the delivery it feels slower than it is, and that because so much of the grunt is delivered in the low-mid range you have to get used to short shifting and using the torque rather than hunting for power higher up the rev range.

I would say bog standard it is pretty much over by 6,000 rpm, but if you want more Arrow Headers Full System will give a LOT more top end and would weigh in at a lot less than swapping the bike out.

 

[tomatocity]

Wednesday I rode my (purchased August 2011) 2012 Super Tenere 65 miles. It had almost zero miles on the engine and was smooth as silk. The difference is this engine has...

... Clutch Jumper Mod (CJM)(mini fuse plugged into the clutch safety switch)
... CO numbers increased
... Throttle Bodies have been sync'd
... new 2014 Clutch Basket (CB)
... new 2014 Cam Chain Tensioner (CCT)

The first two are free. TB sync could be. CB and CCT are worth the expense.

Initially I was not pleased with the Tenere but it grew on quickly. It is not a sport bike but but with the right tires and suspension it thinks it is. When the roads get rough this motorcycle shines. With the right tires it is a gravel monster. The Tenere by far has the best brakes I have ever ridden. Very dependable adventure touring motorcycle with reasonable gas mileage and tank mileage.

We can always find bad/poor things to say about a new/different motorcycle. This motorcycle will allow you to enjoy it.

 

[2112]

Just get some miles on the thing ! I didn't really love the S10 the first (and second) time I rode one and bought a Moto Guzzi Stelvio instead. After seeing Littledave on his I thought it was due a revisit and I bought one shortly afterwards. It needed a few 'tweaks' but it's a great bike - stick with it ::008::

 

[shrekonwheels]

If you went thru seven bikes in seven years, I do not think you know what you want. Perhaps its time to slow down and start appreciating what you have, not what you do not?

 

[True Grip]

Be patient. A lot of us have had the same feeling. I'll agree on the flashed ECU I have a 12 model and after flash it really wakes it up. Forum member on here does flashes and has great reviews and affordable. This bike to me can do an amazing amount of terrain more sure footed than you think is possible or cross the continent quickly and comfortably. Give it some time and ride ride ride.

 

[snakebitten]

Well I thought I could try some off-roading with this thing but most of my riding up to this point has been in the mountains, pavement though, and commuting which is 50-50 hyway-city.

If you are anywhere near "mountains", and you desire some "off-roading", you ARE a target for this design intent. In fact, you are sitting on top of one of the most amazing motorcycles ever designed for that mix!
The bike is ready. You just have to make the transformation yourself.
By the way, the Versys 1000 is NOT the same target or mission. Not even close. A fine bike, I'm sure.....but if you find it fits your "motorcycle soul" better than the Tenere, I suspect you aren't really a Big Pig ADV candidate.

Nothing wrong with that. In fact, we are a strange lot, in the motorcycle world.
Good luck!

 

[shrekonwheels]

I've liked most of the bikes I've had. I'm a modder and after I have a bike a while and do all the mod's I can think of or willing to do, I start to get bored with it.
I started on 750 Honda Shadow but that got old (slow) in 1 season.
1100 Honda shadow had 2 seasons and really liked that bike, many mod's but wanted something bigger.
Yamaha Venture, thinking the wife might ride with me (did not), loved the V4 but not the big-ness of it so got the Tour Deluxe model instead. 3 seasons and loved it, but it's a heavy bike (840wet).
I traded this bike in on the S10
ZRX1100, wasn't running when purchased but almost perfect now. 2 seasons and really like this bike but a little small for my frame and everyone says I look big on it. Still have it.
Suzuki GS500 I got for my daugther but don't ride it much myself.
And now this one.
I feel I got a good deal on it, under 10K and because it had some scratches on it, they gave me the hard side bags and new bigger windshield for around $500 which are normally over twice that amount.

Maybe I should just ::021::

Some people are fussy and have to have a bike fit them, so you may have to do some tweeking there and there to make one fit.

I am blessed, I just am happy to ride. Since 1990 I have only had five bikes, the first I rode for 13 years, second was a ninja 250 I thought would work well for saving gas mileage, horrible choice for Montanas open Roads, although If I lived in a big city I would have made do. Plus I am 220 naked, soo yea not a good Plan.
ZX6r I absolutely loved and had that for seven years, the bike just fit, but I wanted to ride to SA so I purchased a KLR 650. The KLR was a great bike but I got married and well two up it was flat out Dangerous IMo, so only one year for that bike and now onto the Tenere.
I also am a Miser, and I like my money. I refuse to have more than one bike at a time, usually. However since the Tenere is a touring bike I may consider getting an older bike and making a Café racer, I dono we will see.
I plan on keeping the Tenere for a few years, the wife loves it as do I. I realize I have some adjustments to make such as the Windscreen and some highway pegs, otherwise, it is all about the Adventure for me

 

[rotortech71]

I agree with everyone on not rushing to judgement, and giving yourself some time to learn the bike. Get it tweaked to your fit, and liking. I anxiously researched the Super Tenere from the day it was first rumored. The first time I actually got to ride one, I was a little disappointed. A good friend had just purchased one, and we traded bikes for about an hour. I was on a 650 V-Strom at the time, and the Tenere's engine felt like a tractor. The smooth sewing machine engine of the V-Strom had me spoiled, and I actually looked forward to giving the Tenere back to my friend. In stock form, the ergonomics were all messed up for me. I felt like the Tenere didn't fit me at all.

I ended the day feeling disappointed, and unsure of what I should do. The S10 was THE bike I'd been waiting for, and now wasn't sure if I should get it. But, I went ahead with my plan, sold the V-Strom, and picked up a new 2012 three years ago. The first thing I got right was the ergonomics. Fixed the seat, (hated the stock one), fixed the bars, (stock were way too low), fixed the windscreen, (love my MRA Vario screen). Then went to work on the engine. An ECU flash woke the engine up in a big way. Made it an absolute rush, especially in 1st through 3rd gear. Last was the biggest thing that annoyed me, and this was from day one, the clutch basket shutter. That 3200rpm rumble drove me absolutely crazy, and I almost sold the bike because of it. When Yamaha redesigned the basket for 2014, I jumped on one, and was one of the fortunate ones to get in on the pricing error. That basket redesign completely cured the last issue I had with the bike.

So, don't let the first few hundred miles tarnish your opinion. Definitely give it some time, and figure out what you need to change, and what can be left alone. Oh yeah, and like a few others mentioned, don't worry about the break-in dilemma. You won't hurt a thing following the manual.

 

[EricV]

Don't worry about this in the slightest. I have had many opportunities to talk to motorcycle automotive engineers. The break in
instructions they give in your manual are the correct way to brake in a motorcycle. Yamaha knows it's engines more than anyone else.
Be patient. Run it in as Yamaha recommends. I have always followed the run in instructions and have had very well performing bikes.

Whenever I bring up the issue of breaking with industry engineers the running joke is that rather than some "snake medicine" hard brake in.... most
riders would do better to go on a crash diet and lose 50 lbs.

That was good humor there. Next time you talk to motorcycle automotive engineers, ask which of them are BEs? You might find one. The rest are engineering students that have successfully completed a degree program, not engineers. Please remind them not to refer to themselves as something they are not.

Your statement that the manual offers the correct method is correct, if you understand what is being said there. Most people have poor reading comprehension and don't understand what's being said. Nothing in the 'motoman' break in procedure violates what's written in the Yamaha owner's manual. Page 6-3 "Engine Break In"

0-600 miles Avoid prolonged operation above 3900 r/min. 600-1000 miles Avoid prolonged operation above 4700 r/min.

I added emphasis for the word prolonged because it's important.

pro·longed prəˈlôNGd adjective

continuing for a long time or longer than usual; lengthy.

What the Yamaha owner's manual says is well within the motoman break in procedure. The manual also states that after 600 miles the oil and filter "must" be changed. All the motoman is suggesting is that you do it earlier, in both cases, suggesting after break in is complete. Yamaha just feels it takes 600 miles for things to "wear in". Having done both methods over the years, I prefer to just get it over with in ~30 miles and ride like normal, but I still change the oil & filter at the 600 mile point, or let the dealer do it at that first service, which is usually the only service I allow them to do other than warranty work and valve adjustments.

The point in this post is that you don't have to keep the rpms under 3900 for the first 600 miles or under 4700 from 600-1000 miles. In fact, you should run the rpms up above those levels to improve break in wear. Simply don't stay at high rpms for prolonged periods. Don't cruise down the freeway at 70mph in 2nd gear, for example. :

 

[EricV]

I agree with everyone on not rushing to judgement, and giving yourself some time to learn the bike. Get it tweaked to your fit, and liking.

Wise words. ::008::

Then went to work on the engine. An ECU flash woke the engine up in a big way. Made it an absolute rush, especially in 1st through 3rd gear. Last was the biggest thing that annoyed me, and this was from day one, the clutch basket shutter. That 3200rpm rumble drove me absolutely crazy, and I almost sold the bike because of it. When Yamaha redesigned the basket for 2014, I jumped on one, and was one of the fortunate ones to get in on the pricing error. That basket redesign completely cured the last issue I had with the bike.

A point to mention about the ECU flash is that you don't gain any significant Hp, it improves fueling and tweaks timing, but it removes the restrictions in the first three gears. Restrictions that you will seldom notice if you don't go full throttle below 3k rpms or so. Restrictions that are there to help avoid unnecessary wheel spin off pavement. If you enjoy whacking the throttle, the flash is for you. If you don't ride that way, it's not that great a bang for the buck, imho.

The later model clutch hub is worth the money. As rotortech says, it really helps the vibes around 3200. Most noticeable later on in the bike's mileage, while under load like uphill, etc. Many people don't notice it until they have 20k or more on the bike. I don't think I noticed it all until after 50k, but then it really started to bug me and took away from my enjoyment of the bike.

 

[EricV]

I can assure you they were not students or "public relations engineers". I'm talking about some legendary automotive people. I have worked for a super bike magazine
and have had the chance to meet the very best.

You have two things here:
One is "web snake medicine yada yada" to drum up "running business"

The other is a billion dollar multinational that is an extremely high tech corporation with knowledge that also happens to go far beyond motorcycles.

Fred, let it go. You're clearly not understanding what I've said. There is no business being drummed up by following a procedure publicly posted on the web. Magazine, eh? I spent 20 years actually working for a multinational corporation in manufacturing. Many engineers can't pull there head out of CAD long enough to understand how to fix their mistakes. And even the best engineer can write up exactly what procedure he feels is best, but that's not going to make it into the owner's manual, which is written and modified to meet corporate needs and the legal dept. It's vague intentionally.

Once again, nothing in the motoman procedure violates what is written in the owner's manual. It's just one guys more detailed explanation of what to do and why to do it. If you don't understand that, go read the procedure and your owner's manual again. Look up the big words in the dictionary if need be.

 

[Tyke]

Can I ask why you went from Versys 1000 to S10? ::017::
I like my ZRX1100 which is a similar engine on the V.
I have to sell it to pay for this new bike.......... :'(

.



Hi, after suffering serious health issues sine late 2012 I found myself in the position of having to sell my much loved 70s Kawasaki Triples.. there was a few of them plus a British Gold Flash and Velocette Venom, I was left with the one bike that meant soooo much to me personally my 1975 Kawasaki H2c, this bike was everything to me and it had won prizes the length and breadth of the U.K, but I decided that it had to go

At the time I owned a 2012 Versys 1000 which is a seriously under rated bike, but I decided that to remember my lovely H2c I would plough the money from its sale into something special...I had always hankered after an S10 because its just such a good bike , its components are outstanding as is the construction of the bike, after trying one out I was smitten

The rest as they say is history ::008::

 

[bmac]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. Probably take it out tomorrow for a little seat time. ::022::

The manual should be a little more clear on the break-in procedure...oh well

It is very clear. Avoid PROLONGED operation above a certain RPM. This does not, by any definition, mean "not to exceed"

I wouldn't worry about break-in as it won't be around long enough for it to make any real difference.

 

[TXTenere]

You can add me to the list of owners that were initially unimpressed, but the bike quickly grew on.

I was fortunate enough to be able to demo the bike before purchasing it. After my ten or fifteen mile demo ride, I was underwhelmed and unimpressed by the Super Tenere. I "knew" right then that the bike was not for me. A few weeks went by, and I again had the itch for looking at the Super Tenere, so off to the dealer I went for another ride. This time, before leaving the lot, I put the bike in sport mode, and went off on my ride. Something was different; the bike seemed to handle better, the motor was more responsive, and overall it was a more enjoyable demo ride. Whatever changed, I was sold. I rode the bike home, and found that the more miles that I put on it, the more that I began to appreciate the bike.

I went for a 100 mile ride this morning consisting of some highway, some twisty back roads, and some normal roads with nothing particularly special about them. Sometimes the temperature was in the 70s and other times the temperature was in the 50s with rain and wind. During all those varying conditions, the bike was a joy to ride, and never once did I wish I was riding something else.

Hopefully my experience will be indicative of the experience that you will have. Put a few thousand miles on the bike and check back in this thread and let us know your thoughts.

 

[TenereStreets]

I liked the bike right away with its riding position, bottom-end torque, and found it capable in the canyons. Here’s a video of me during break-in. Bike’s now close to 25k miles and runs great.

2014 Yamaha Super Tenere - Still Breaking-In Engine